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Quakes Drop Regular Season Finale as Playoffs Loom

Rancho loses three straight to sub-.500 Nuts
September 5, 2016

Rancho Cucamonga, CA-- The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes dropped the 2016 regular season finale, losing to the Modesto Nuts, 10-5 on Monday afternoon at LoanMart Field.

The Quakes finish the second half with a record of 37-33, and an overall record of 79-61. The most wins the Quakes had in a season was 80 back in 2011.

Dodgers' major league rehabber Brandon McCarthy (0-2) started for the Quakes, and struggled after giving up 10 runs (five earned) on nine hits in four innings.

Modesto scored four in the first inning, and never looked back. With two out and a runner at third, Shane Hoelscher hit a routine ground ball to Erick Mejia at shortstop. Mejia booted the ball for his team-high 41st error of the season, allowing a run to score and to make it 1-0 Modesto. The next hitter, Drew Weeks hit an RBI single to score Hoelscher and then Colin Ferguson followed with a two-run home run.

After the Nuts scored a run in the fifth to make it 5-0, Rancho came back with a two-run second inning.

Garrett Kennedy ripped a two-run single to left field to pull the Quakes to within three at 5-2.

Despite clawing back into the game, McCarthy couldn't get a shutout inning in the third. He allowed three more runs, off one swing of the bat. Ferguson hit his second home run of the game, a three-run shot and his 14th of the season to give Modesto an 8-2 lead.

Rancho Cucamonga cut the deficit to 8-4, before the Nuts added two more runs in the fourth. Hoelscher hit a two-run home run, his 11th of the season to give Modesto a 10-2 advantage, and they went on to win 10-5.

The Quakes scored their final three runs on a Will Smith fielder's choice RBI, and Yusniel Diaz and Johan Mieses each worked bases-loaded walks.

Christian Talley (1-1) earns the win in relief for Modesto. He went three scoreless innings, allowing just two hits while striking out three. Jack Wynkoop started and lasted just 1 2/3 innings. He allowed two earned runs on four hits.

McCarthy takes the loss for Rancho. He walked one, struck out five and gave up three home runs in his four innings. Gavin Pittore worked a scoreless inning of relief while Felipe Gonzalez pitched four scoreless innings. He allowed just one hit and struck out six.

The Quakes will take Tuesday off, before starting post-season play against the Lancaster JetHawks on Wednesday. Right-hander Tim Shibuya (4-0, 2.51 ERA) will start game one of the best-of-three series, while the JetHawks will counter with right-hander Brock Dykxhoorn (10-4 5.02 ERA). Dykxhoorn shut out the Quakes through seven innings on the last road trip.

Wednesday is a special promotion, as it's Happy Hour Wednesday! Thirsty Thursday prices will take place for ONE HOUR, from 6:05 p.m. - 7:05 p.m. after gates open. Fans can enjoy $2 Pepsi products, $3 domestic drafts, $4 premium drafts, wine, champagne and margaritas for that first hour. Tickets are available by calling (909) 481-5000 or online at rcquakes.com. We hope to see you at LoanMart Field very soon … Go Quakes!